New hermetic 38999 BMA RF connector suits harsh environments

Design engineers can now benefit from the utility of a 38999 format high-speed RF connector in harsh environment applications, following PA&E's release of its new hermetic 38999 BMA (Blind Mate Attach) RF connector line. This latest product development combines PA&E's industry-proven hermetic RF connector technology with industry-standard MIL-DTL 38999/23 Series III shell interfaces. The atmospheric side of the connector contains #8 BMA coaxial contacts per MIL-STD-348 while the hermetic side contains SMA contacts per the same MIL-STD. The new high-performance BMA connectors are available in laser-weld or jam-nut configurations with 1, 2, 4, 6 or 8 contacts. Six key-way patterns and 11-80, 17-75, 21-48, 21-75, 23-06 and 25-08 shell sizes are also available. All formats provide RF performance of ?1db insertion loss at 18 GHz and have a hermetic leak rate of ?1x10-9 cc He at 1 ATM. In laser-weld configuration, these connectors are compatible with materials that hermetically weld to 4032 or 4047 aluminium, 304L stainless steel or grade 2 titanium. The jam-nut versions mount with a stainless steel jam-nut and o-ring. The shell and SMA barrel are made of 304L stainless while the feed-through insert is Kovar. The BMA outer contract contacts are beryllium copper and the BMA centre pins are Kovar sealed with 7070 glass. The connectors have an operating temperature range of -65C to +200C.